TINTON FALLS - Vito Perillo's life is very busy these days, even a bit hectic, he admits.

The 93-year-old World War II veteran and mayor-elect made national news with his upset election win on Nov. 7. Now, he's feeling his way around municipal government and preparing for a job he's never done before.

It's a job that will require him to attend two monthly mayor and council meetings plus a monthly Fort Monmouth board meeting. That is on top of overseeing a $24 million budget.

Over 2,400 people voted for Perillo, who is a retired electronics engineer in the U.S. Department of Defense. In the days since the election, he said folks have stopped him many times to congratulate him.

"The people are treating me very good. I feel like I have 100 percent of their support," Perillo said.

Additionally, he has been assured by several members of the six-person Borough Council that he has their support. Outgoing Mayor Gerald M. Turning also offered his backing.

"I appreciate the job you are walking into and know well the trial and tribulations that you will have. I want to wish you well," Turning told Perillo at a Nov. 13 meeting.

Politics in the borough are nonpartisan. Perillo is a registered Republican, according to voter registration records, but he has spoken with state Sen.-elect Vin Gopal.

Gopal, a Democrat, defeated incumbent Republican Jennifer Beck for the 11th District, to which the borough belongs.

Perillo went door-to-door on his campaign of fiscal restraint and was boosted by two whistleblower lawsuits involving the police department that cost $1.1 million to settle, police promotions and skepticism over spending $600,000 for a synthetic baseball field.

So far he's had to quell a rumor that he's planning police layoffs and he's already bumped heads with the council over Elizabeth Perez, the interim borough administrator, who was appointed by Turning.

Perillo said he would prefer to start his term with an administrator of his choosing, and was under the mistaken impression that Turning could appoint Perez to a four-year term.

"The whole point is not about tying his hands and that we would force an administrator on him," said Deputy Council President Christopher Pak. "But it's too make sure Mr. Perillo would have an administrator there until he makes his own appointment. That is his right."

Nelson said once Perillo is sworn in on Jan. 2, he can appoint a new administrator that would be subject to the consent and approval of the council.

Still, Perillo, who has been interviewing candidates for the administrator job, has his concerns over whether the council will approve an appointment if he makes one.

"I can see why people voted for him," said Joe Bamback, the former commander of the Oceanport Veteran of Foreign Affairs post, where Perillo was a member. "I think they're tired of politicians."

Bamback, in an interview with a reporter, said Perillo was his vice-commander when the two tried to keep the Oceanport post open. Declining membership forced the post's merger with the Oakhurst VFW about five years ago.

"He attended all the Memorial Day and Veteran Day events," said Bamback. "I could count on him."